Door construction for baling presses



Nov. 29, 1960 w. VAN DOORN 2,961,943

DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR BALING PRESSES Filed Nov. 2, 1956 45heets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. Don I /d W. Van Daa rn.

BY M, MQ W,

Nov. 29, 1960 D. w. VAN DOORN 2,961,943

DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR BALING PRESSES Filed Nov. 2, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Donald W Van Doorn Nov. 29, 1960 0. w. VAN DOORN DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR BALING PRESSES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 2, 1956 INVENTOR. Donald W Van Door/1.

W, A'i'i'orneys 2,961,943 DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR BALIING PRESSES Donald W. Van Doom, Columbus, Ga., assignor to Lummus Cotton Gin Company, a corporation of Georgia Filed Nov. 2, 1956, Ser. No. 620,122

Claims. (Cl. 100-255) My invention relates to fiber baling presses and has particular relation to an improved construction for the door thereof.

In the art to which this invention relates the usual baling press for baling fibers such as cotton and similar synthetic fibers embodies side and end doors. The side doors customarily are hinged and heretofore the end doors have been held in place only by the trapping or enclosing action of the side doors. Therefore, in prior apparatus when the side doors were opened it was necessary to push the end doors outwardly by hand, thus completely to open the press. Further, the end doors ordinarily moved outwardly away from each other, at the tops only, the bottoms remaining substantially in the position that they occupy when the doors all are closed.

In view of the foregoing an object of my invention is to provide a baling press in which the end doors move outwardly both at the top and the bottom, thus to provide all around clearance when the press box is opened.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the character designated in which the opening of the side doors actuates certain linkages which permit the end doors to open automatically upon opening of the side doors, and conversely which cause the end doors to move inwardly, automatically, whenever the side doors are closed.

Further objects are to provide means automatically to lock the end doors in place and to hold them against the tremendous force exerted by the fiber under compression Within the press; to provide a press in which the end doors move far enough away from the press box space when the side doors are opened, to permit the insertion in the press box space of relatively rigid packaging material for the bale such for instance as cardboard or the like; to provide linkage means for the doors which shall be simple of construction and reliable and trouble free in operation, and, generally, to provide a press box which may be more easily operated and which shall be safer in operation.

A further object is to provide linkage which permits the doors to rise as the ram compresses the bale and prevents the doors from rising under pressure of the cotton against the press dogs on the tramper side of the press.

Briefly, my invention contemplates a fiber baling press box which has a pair of hinged side doors. The end doors are mounted as will be described upon cross shaft supported linkage which permits the end doors, when the side doors are open, to move outwardly both at the top and bottom, thus to increase the space within the box, I provide linkage mechanisms which assure that the end doors move outwardly evenly as the side doors are opened. I further provide wedge blocks and lock mecha- States Patent nisms to engage and securely hold the end doors in place when the side doors are locked as will be explained. The linkage mechanism referred to transmits the forces from the innermost end doors of a double box press to the outermost doors thereof, assuring that both end doors of each box operate in unison.

Apparatus illustrating features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a double box press embodying my invention, some of the cover plates for certain parts of the apparatus being removed for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental front elevational view of a portion of one of the press boxes of the double box press shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental view, drawn to a smaller scale, and showing the end door supporting and operating mechanism at the other side of the press box shown in the right hand side of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental end elevational view of one of the end doors taken generally along line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental detail sectional view taken generally along line VV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally along line VIVI of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line VII-VII of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention I will describe the same in association with a double box press of the type particularly adapted to bale lint cotton and similar fibers. However, as the description proceeds it will be apparent that my invention is equally applicable to a single box press, whether used to bale cotton fibers or other fibers.

In Fig. 1 I show the general organization of parts. The baling press may consist essentially of a supporting frame indicated generally by the numeral 10 and which has a heavy vertically extending shaft 11 therein. The press boxes indicated generally by the letters A and B are mounted on suitable framework and supporting structures so that they revolve or rotate about the vertical shaft 11 from a position under a tramper or fiber supplying device indicated generally at 12 to a position above: platen 13. The platen is raised upwardly by means of a hydraulic cylinder 14, a fragment of which is shown in the drawing, in the manner well understood. Therefore, cotton is supplied to the box B in the position shown in Fig. 1 from the tramper 12, the press is rotated and the actual bale is formed by moving the platen upwardly. At the top of the framework occupied by the box A in Fig. 1 are members 16 against which the fiber presses as the platen moves upwardly. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the form of press shown in Fig. 1 is what is known as a two-story press, the workman operating the same walking on a circular platform which is placed about the top of the channel ring indicated at 17 in Fig. 1.

As is well understood the press boxes are identical and a description of one therefore will sufiice for both insofar as the door construction thereof is concerned. It may be said generally that by reference to Fig. 1 the mechanism viewed in the box A is reproduced identically on the rear side of the box B as seen in that figure.

Eachpress box comprises four doors. There are side doors 19 and 21 and an outer end door 22 and an inwardly disposed end door 23. The doors 19 and 21 are pivotally mounted on vertically disposed posts or rods 24 and 26 respectively, the rods being mounted in brackets 27 and 28 which are secured to a part of the press framework. Mounted on the free ends of the doors 21 are locking devices which are indicated generally by the numeral 25 and which may be in the form of a hydraulic cylinder. Pivotally connected to the free ends of the doors 19 on a rod 29 is a yoke 31 having a vertical piece 32 which is adapted to swing over the outwardly moving piston 33 of the locking mechanism 25, whereby upon the application of fluid to the cylinder the piston moves out, drawing the free ends of the doors 19 and 21 together, thus locking the door. The locking mechanism, the mounting of the doors and the doors themselves which already have been described, in a general way, all are well known and are well understood.

My invention comprises the means to actuate the end doors 22 and 23, automatically, upon opening of the side doors. As shown in the drawings, I secure to the lower end of the door 22, at each lower side corner thereof, plates 34 and 36. See Figs. 2 and 3. The plates are bolted to the lower side edges of the end door by bolts 37. Pivotally connected to the plate 34 by means of a pin 38 is a depending bracket arm 39. A similar bracket arm 41 is pivotally connected to the plate 36 by means of a pin 42. The brackets 39 and 41 have wider lower portions 39a and 41a respectively. Secured to the portion 39a and outstanding therefrom is a pin 43 and secured to the part 41a is an outstanding pin 44. The pins 43 and 44 rest in notches 46 and 47 respectively in brackets 48 and 49 which are welded to frame parts 51 and 52 which run along the sides of the press. Welded to the inner face of each of the wider parts 39a and 41a is a cross tube or torsion member 50.

Pivotally connected to the torsion members 50 as at 50a are links 5012 which are slidably connected to the lower ends of the end walls of the two story press box, as shown. These ends of the links are turned under and engage the under side of the false follow blocks 15 on top of which the cotton is being packed by the tramper. This exerts a downward pull on the baling doors, holding them against vertical movement in response to upward force exerted by the compacted fiber on the dogs which are mounted on the baling doors.

The innermost end door 23 is supported on identical sets of the arms 39 and 41 and carry the plates 34 and 36 together with the brackets 48 and 49, all as just described. In like manner, the corresponding end doors of the press box A are supported by the identical mechanism and fragmental parts thereof have been numbered correspondingly.

Pivotally connected to the end of the plate 34 for the outer door 22 as at 55 is a link 53. The link 53 has a slotted lower end 54 which fits slidably over a pin 56 outstanding from the framework portion 51 of the press. In a quite similar manner there is pivotally connected at 55 to the plate 36 for the inner door 23 one of the links 53 having the slotted end 54 which fits slidably over the pin 56.

Pivotally connected also to the plates 34 as at 57 are links 58. The links 58 are connected as shown pivotally as at 59 and 61 to the lower and upper ends, respectively, of a link 62. The link 62 is pivotally mounted to the press framework as at 63.

Connected to the plates 34 and 36 supporting the inner doors 23 are springs 64 which urge the two innermost doors 23 toward each other.

From what has already been described it will be ap parent that at all times the end doors 23 are urged toward each other by the springs 64 and the action of the springs is equalized through the support bars 39--41 and the torsion tube 50 which connects the lower'parts 39a and 41a of the This. has the effect, therefore, of

rocking the arms 39 and 41 about the pivot pins 43 and 44. The plates 3436 thus are shifted in the direction shown by the arrows 35 in Fig. 2, carrying the doors 23 with them. The link 53, as limited by the slot 54, prevents the plate 34 from rocking and due to the parallelogram formed by lines drawn between points 38, 43, 55, 56, Fig. 2, the end doors are always held in a vertical position. The plate 36 is provided with a similar link 53 and a spring 66 which is connected to a pin 56. The link 58 connected to the plate 34 of the inner door 23 rocks the link 62, causing the corresponding link 58 connected to the opposite plate 34 to shift the latter named plate 34 to the right as viewed in Fig. 2, moving the door 22 outwardly. The torsion tube 50 associated with the door 22 transmits this motion to the opposite plate 36 also associated With door 22, whereby the latter named door also moves outwardly corresponding to the outward movement of door 23. The foregoing movements of the doors 22 and 23 are controlled by the opening and closing of the side doors by the mechanisms now to be ex plained.

As best shown in Fig. 7 the end door 23 of each press box is provided with outwardly projecting rollers 68 which are mounted for rotation in brackets 69 projecting from sides of the door near the bottom thereof. Mounted on the doors 19 and 21, near the pivoted ends thereof, are cams 70 which are adapted to engage against the rollers 68 when the end doors 23 are opened and move them from the dotted line position of Fig. 7 to the full line position thereof upon closing of the doors 19 and 21. Further, when the doors are closed there are provided, at a higher elevation on the doors 19 and 21 tapered locking blocks 71 which engage against the outer surfaces of the doors 23, after they have moved from the dotted line position of Fig. 6 to the full line position thereof, thus to lock the doors 23 in place. Therefore, the rollers 68 then are engaged by the cams 70, to shift the doors 23 to their closed positions and to permit the locking block 71 to engage behind the outer surfaces of the doors 23, securely to lock them against the force to be exerted by the fiber under pressure in the box.

The free ends of the doors 19 and 21 carry locking blocks 72 which are adapted to look behind the outer surfaces of the doors 22 when the doors 19 and 21 are completely closed. See Fig. 5. It will be remembered that by the time the free ends of the doors 19 and 21 carrying the block 72 reach the position shown in Fig. 5 the door 22, in response to the motion imparted thereto by the various linkages already described, will havemoved to a position to permit the blocks 72 to engage as shown.

From the foregoing the method of constructing and the method of operation of my improved baling press may now be readily explained and understood. With the doors closed it will be apparent that the locking elements 71:

and 72 are in firm locking engagement with the respective end doors 23 and 22. With the yokes 31 in place and with the locking mechanism 25 actuated the press is securely locked. After the bale is formed the yoke 31 is pivoted about the rod 29, and the doors 19 and 21 are opened by swinging them about their respective hinge posts 24 and 26. The outward movement of the free ends of the doors 19 and 21 removes the blocks 72 from locking position relative to the doors 22. Further outward movement removes the blocks 71 from locking engagement with the innermost end doors 23. Still further outward movement of the doors 19 and 21 removes the cam blocks 70 from coacting relation with the bracket 69 and rollers 68 whereby the springs 64 shift the doors 23 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7. This motion is transmitted to the door 22 through the linkage, moving it to the right as viewed in Figs. 2 and 5, thus completely opening the press box doors. It will be especially noted that closing either of the doors 19 or 21, through the torsion bar arrangement is effective to move bothjend doors 22 and 23 to their closed positions.

Further, the end doors move evenly into position, without binding and both the bottom and top of the doors move the same amount. This afiords all around clearance in the press box whereby packaging material such as cardboard may be used to line the box to receive the fiber. It will be noted that as the ram moves upwardly the doors are free to move vertically until they contact the upper platen 16 of the press. This is permitted by the: slots 54 and the slotted brackets 48. As the ram moves up the false follow block moves up, relieving the tension on the links 50b permitting the doors to move upwardly, as just mentioned. The springs 66 serve the dual purpose: of holding the end doors vertical by keeping the top of the slot 54 engaged over the pin 56 during opening and closing of the doors; and in combination with the slots permit the doors to move vertically during the pressing of the bale.

In actual practice my invention has proved to be practical in every respect. My invention also affords an additional safety feature in the operation of presses of this type inasmuch as the end doors move automatically and it is not necessary for workmen to take the risk of injuring their hands by prying them open or shifting them in any other manner.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a door actuating mechanism for fiber baling presses having end doors and side doors pivotally mounted adjacent one of the end doors for swinging movement in horizontal planes, means operatively connecting the end doors to each other for simultaneous inward and outward movement, means continuously urging said end doors away from each other in substantially parallel vertical relation when the side doors are open, cam members mounted on said side doors adjacent the pivot points thereof in position to engage the adjacent end door and urge both end doors toward each other in parallel vertical relation simultaneously with the movement of the side doors toward closed position, and locking blocks separate from said cam members carried by said side doors on each end thereof in position to contact and hold said end doors in their innermost position after the cam members have urged the end doors to closed position.

2. In door actuating mechanism for fiber baling presses having a pair of facing end doors and a pair of facing side doors pivotally mounted adjacent one of the edges thereof for swinging movement to and from a closed position, a linkage mounting each of the end doors for parallel rectilinear movement, means operatively connecting the end doors to each other whereby they move outwardly and inwardly simultaneously in substantially parallel vertical relation, means operatively connected to one of said end doors and urging it outwardly about said linkage in rectilinear relation when said side doors are open whereby both end doors are moved outwardly simultaneously with the opening of the side doors, and means carried by each side door adjacent the pivoted end thereof and disposed to engage the adjacent end door and urge it inwardly in rectilinear relation upon movement of either side door toward closed position whereby both end doors are moved inwardly with the closing of either side door.

3. Door actuating mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which the end doors are held in their innermost positions while the side doors are in the closed position by locking members carried by the side doors in position to engage the end doors.

Door actuating mechanism as defined in claim 2 in WhlCh the means urging the end doors outwardly com-- prises a resilient member connected at one end to an end.

door and anchored at its other end.

' 5. Door actuating mechanism as defined in claim 4 in which the resilient member is in the form of a spring.

6. In door actuating mechanism for fiber baling press boxes having end doors and side doors pivotally mounted adjacent one of the end doors for swinging movement inhorizontal planes, vertical plates mounted at the lower corners of said end doors, depending arms pivotally con nected at their upper ends to said plates and at their 'lower ends to supporting brackets, torsion members rigidly connecting the depending brackets at opposite sides of each end door, a link mounted for pivotal movement intermediate its ends between the vertical plates at one side of the press box, other links pivotally connecting the vertical plates at opposite sides of said link to opposite ends of said link whereby said plates move inwardly and outwardly simultaneously, means limiting rotation of said vertical plates whereby said end doors are maintained in substantially vertical planes, means urging at least one of said vertical plates outwardly when said side doors are open whereby both end doors are moved outwardly, means carried by each side door adjacent the pivoted end thereof and disposed to engage the adjacent end door and urge it inwardly upon movement of the side doors toward closed position whereby both end doors are moved inward, and locking means carried by said side doors holding said end doors in their innermost position while the side doors are in the closed position.

7. Door actuating mechanism as defined in claim 6 in which the torsion members are operatively connected to the bottoms of the press boxes whereby the doors are prevented from rising until the fiber is compressed upwardly.

8. In door actuating mechanism for fiber baling press boxes having end doors and side doors pivotally mounted adjacent one of the end doors for swinging movement in horizontal planes, means continuously urging said end doors away from each other in substantially vertical parallel relation when the side doors are open, means operatively connecting the end doors to each other whereby they move inwardly and outwardly simultaneously, cam members mounted on said side doors adjacent the pivoted ends thereof, rollers mounted at the sides of the end door which is adjacent the pivoted ends of said side doors in position to engage said cams whereby the end doors are urged toward each other in vertical parallel relation simultaneously with the movement of the side doors toward closed position, and locking blocks carried on each end of said side doors in position to contact and hold said end doors in their innermost position after the cams have urged the end doors to closed position.

9. In door actuating mechanism for fiber baling presses having a double press box with end doors and side doors pivotally mounted adjacent the innermost end doors of the press boxes for swinging movement in horizontal planes, spring members connecting said innermost adjacent end doors to each other whereby they are continuously urged toward each other in substantially vertical parallel relation when the side doors are open, means operatively connecting the end doors of each press box to each other whereby they move outwardly and inwardly simultaneously in substantially vertical parallel relation, and cam means carried by the side doors disposed to engage said innermost end doors and urge them toward each other in vertical parallel relation simultaneously with the movement of the side doors toward closed position.

10. In door actuating mechanism for fiber baling presses having end doors and side doors pivotally mounted adjacent one of the end doors for swinging movement in horizontal planes, depending arms pivotally connected at their upper ends to the lower ends of said end doors, support brackets for the lower ends of said arms and having vertically extending slots therein, pivot pins carried bysaid arms and adapted to fit in saidslots and move vertically relative thereto, torsion members connecting the depending brackets at opposite sides of each end door, links connecting said torsion members to the bottoms of the press boxes whereby the doors are prevented from rising until the fiber is compressed upwardly, means urging the end doors away from each other in substantially parallel vertical relation when the side doors are open, and means carried by the side doors disposed to engage the end doors and urge them toward each 8 other upon movement of the side doors toward closed position.

: References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,016,444 Mackenzie Oct. 8, 1935 2,169,667 Streun Aug. 15, 1939 2,219,970 Wallace Oct. 29, 1940 2,241,063 Grimes et a1. May 6, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,376 Great Britain 1863 

